As an artist, 42- year old Ahmad Shukran Shehrzad knew only one way to express the pain and hardship he and other migrants on Lesbos have faced. He picked up a brush and started painting. When flames engulfed Moria migrants camp last week, thousands of people fled in droves and were forced to sleep in the street, without proper shelter, sanitation, food or water.

Afghan artist brings refugees flight from Moria inferno to life

A fire was reported on the tiny Greek island of Lesbos. The flames engulfed several houses but there were no reports of injuries.

However, the fire fighters who arrived at the scene were met with resistance and by dawn large plumes of smoke was seen rising from the island as local authorities announced that Europe's largest migrant camp was gutted in the blaze.

The Moria camp home to 12,500 refugees has now been reduced to ashes. The camp was once notorious for being the most overcrowded in Europe, however, all that remains now is debris and rubble.

At least 4,000 migrants have fled the smouldering camp for other cities. The Greek government has stepped in but it is prioritising young lives. It is relocating unaccompanied minors to other camps with some 170 minors being sent on a plane to Thessaloniki. The older and less fortunate migrants say they are going to sleep under the stars.

"Under the stars, I'm going to sleep under the stars like all these people here. Nowhere to go since everything burned, so we slept outside and we'll continue here. No organization, no Greek government agency has come here to help us a little," Leonie Raymon, refugee from Cameroon, said.

However, the question is what triggered the massive blaze. This question was asked to the Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi. His response has become a subject of debate.

"The real series of events is still being investigated. What is certain is that the fire was started, because of the quarantine&nbsp;by asylum seekers in the facility. I have no other comment to make," Notis Mitarachi, Greek migration minister, said.

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Did the asylum seekers really burn down their own houses? Initial evidence suggests they did. The migrants were upset about the strict lockdown measures. They were isolated and locked inside after at least 35 people tested positive for COVID-19.

The Greek government says the fire was pre-planned so that the migrants could flee quarantine.

"From what we have gathered until now, the fires started as a result of the dissatisfaction of occupants of the Moria camp to the imposed isolation, after 36 coronavirus cases were found after 1,900 tests took place in the previous days. The fires started around the perimeter of the camp, and then were located inside the camp," Giorgos Koumoutsakos, deputy migration minister, said.

The fact is that the Moria camp had become a tinderbox. It was hosting migrants four times more than its maximum capacity. The government had promised to relocate them but could not. The asylum seekers may now have taken it upon themselves and are now walking thousands of miles searching for a new home as Europe braces itself for another migrant crisis.

A fire was reported on the tiny Greek island of Lesbos. The flames engulfed several houses but there were no reports of injuries. However, the fire fighters who arrived at the scene were met with resistance and by dawn large plumes of smoke was seen rising from the island as local authorities announced that Europe's largest migrant camp was gutted in the blaze.

A fire was reported on the tiny Greek island of Lesbos. The flames engulfed several houses but there were no reports of injuries. However, the fire fighters who arrived at the scene were met with resistance and by dawn large plumes of smoke was seen rising from the island as local authorities announced that Europe's largest migrant camp was gutted in the blaze. The Moria camp home to 12,500 refugees has now been reduced to ashes. The camp was once notorious for being the most overcrowded in Europe, however, all that remains now is debris and rubble. At least 4,000 migrants have fled the smouldering camp for other cities. The Greek government has stepped in but it is prioritising young lives. It is relocating unaccompanied minors to other camps with some 170 minors being sent on a plane to Thessaloniki. The older and less fortunate migrants say they are going to sleep under the stars. "Under the stars, I'm going to sleep under the stars like all these people here. Nowhere to go since everything burned, so we slept outside and we'll continue here. No organization, no Greek government agency has come here to help us a little," Leonie Raymon, refugee from Cameroon, said. However, the question is what triggered the massive blaze. This question was asked to the Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi. His response has become a subject of debate. "The real series of events is still being investigated. What is certain is that the fire was started, because of the quarantine by asylum seekers in the facility. I have no other comment to make," Notis Mitarachi, Greek migration minister, said. × Did the asylum seekers really burn down their own houses? Initial evidence suggests they did. The migrants were upset about the strict lockdown measures. They were isolated and locked inside after at least 35 people tested positive for COVID-19. The Greek government says the fire was pre-planned so that the migrants could flee quarantine. "From what we have gathered until now, the fires started as a result of the dissatisfaction of occupants of the Moria camp to the imposed isolation, after 36 coronavirus cases were found after 1,900 tests took place in the previous days. The fires started around the perimeter of the camp, and then were located inside the camp," Giorgos Koumoutsakos, deputy migration minister, said. The fact is that the Moria camp had become a tinderbox. It was hosting migrants four times more than its maximum capacity. The government had promised to relocate them but could not. The asylum seekers may now have taken it upon themselves and are now walking thousands of miles searching for a new home as Europe braces itself for another migrant crisis.

Did refugees set Moria camp ablaze over COVID-19 quarantine? Greek minister thinks so!

Thousands of asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos were camping on roadsides on Thursday after the country's largest camp burnt down, with officials racing to find them shelter and avert a health crisis.

Desperate families, many with young children, spent a second night in the open, some without tents or basic bedding.

Some of the homeless trekked to the nearest villages for water and other supplies.

The fire late on Tuesday at Moria camp, Greece's most notorious migrant facility, sent thousands fleeing for safety into surrounding olive groves.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/fire-destroys-europes-largest-migrant-camp-on-lesbos-326306#thousands-of-asylum-seekers-left-homeless-326287">Have a look:&nbsp;Fire 'destroys' Europe's largest migrant camp on Lesbos</a>

While nobody was seriously hurt, the blaze destroyed the official part of the camp, which housed 4,000 people, ministers said.&nbsp;

A second fire late on Wednesday destroyed most of the remaining camp where another 8,000 lived in tents and makeshift shacks around the perimeter, the migration ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The ministry said a ferry had been sent to accommodate hundreds of people ahead of the expected arrival of European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas to inspect conditions on the island.

"Today all necessary actions will be taken to immediately shelter families and vulnerable persons to begin with," the ministry said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fire-breaks-out-at-overcrowded-moria-migrant-camp-in-greece-326137">Also read:&nbsp;Fire breaks out at overcrowded Moria migrant camp in Greece</a>

Two Greek navy vessels would provide additional sleeping space, the ministry said.

The government also said it had sent three flights to remove 406 unaccompanied minors from the island.

The children have been tested for the novel coronavirus, and will be housed in "safe" facilities in northern Greece.

Migration minister Notis Mitarachi on Wednesday said asylum seekers had started the fire because of quarantine measures imposed after 35 people at the camp tested positive for coronavirus.

Officials have declared a four-month emergency on Lesbos and flown in additional riot police.

Greece's public health authority EODY said eight of the 35 positive cases had been located and isolated along with a significant number of their close contacts.

Medical staff from the World Health Organization are expected in Lesbos on Thursday to begin tests on asylum seekers and locals, EODY chief Panagiotis Arkoumaneas told reporters on Wednesday.

European countries from Germany to Norway -- along with EU chiefs -- have responded with offers of help as calls intensify for urgent reform of the bloc's asylum system.

Since becoming one of the main gateways into Europe for migrants and asylum-seekers in 2015, Greece has built dozens of detention centres around the country.

But with other European nations accepting only a small trickle of refugees, thousands remain trapped in the Greek camps in usually dismal health conditions.

Greece's conservative government has also toughened its asylum restrictions, slashing cash benefits and accommodation provisions to discourage further migration.

Thousands of asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos were camping on roadsides on Thursday after the country's largest camp burnt down, with officials racing to find them shelter and avert a health crisis.

Thousands of asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos were camping on roadsides on Thursday after the country's largest camp burnt down, with officials racing to find them shelter and avert a health crisis. Desperate families, many with young children, spent a second night in the open, some without tents or basic bedding. Some of the homeless trekked to the nearest villages for water and other supplies. The fire late on Tuesday at Moria camp, Greece's most notorious migrant facility, sent thousands fleeing for safety into surrounding olive groves. Have a look: Fire 'destroys' Europe's largest migrant camp on Lesbos While nobody was seriously hurt, the blaze destroyed the official part of the camp, which housed 4,000 people, ministers said. A second fire late on Wednesday destroyed most of the remaining camp where another 8,000 lived in tents and makeshift shacks around the perimeter, the migration ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The ministry said a ferry had been sent to accommodate hundreds of people ahead of the expected arrival of European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas to inspect conditions on the island. "Today all necessary actions will be taken to immediately shelter families and vulnerable persons to begin with," the ministry said. Also read: Fire breaks out at overcrowded Moria migrant camp in Greece Two Greek navy vessels would provide additional sleeping space, the ministry said. The government also said it had sent three flights to remove 406 unaccompanied minors from the island. The children have been tested for the novel coronavirus, and will be housed in "safe" facilities in northern Greece. Migration minister Notis Mitarachi on Wednesday said asylum seekers had started the fire because of quarantine measures imposed after 35 people at the camp tested positive for coronavirus. Officials have declared a four-month emergency on Lesbos and flown in additional riot police. Greece's public health authority EODY said eight of the 35 positive cases had been located and isolated along with a significant number of their close contacts. Medical staff from the World Health Organization are expected in Lesbos on Thursday to begin tests on asylum seekers and locals, EODY chief Panagiotis Arkoumaneas told reporters on Wednesday. European countries from Germany to Norway -- along with EU chiefs -- have responded with offers of help as calls intensify for urgent reform of the bloc's asylum system. Since becoming one of the main gateways into Europe for migrants and asylum-seekers in 2015, Greece has built dozens of detention centres around the country. But with other European nations accepting only a small trickle of refugees, thousands remain trapped in the Greek camps in usually dismal health conditions. Greece's conservative government has also toughened its asylum restrictions, slashing cash benefits and accommodation provisions to discourage further migration.

Greece races to shelter thousands after Lesbos migrant camp fire

Fire 'destroys' Europe's largest migrant camp on Lesbos

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Afghan artist brings refugees flight from Moria inferno to life

Did refugees set Moria camp ablaze over COVID-19 quarantine? Greek minister thinks so!

Greece races to shelter thousands after Lesbos migrant camp fire

Fire 'destroys' Europe's largest migrant camp on Lesbos